1864/12/27 Report of Col. S.Ross

O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XXXIX/1 [S# 77]

SEPTEMBER 29-NOVEMBER 13, 1864.--Operations in North Georgia and North Alabama.

No. 52.--Report of Col. Samuel Ross, Twentieth Connecticut Infantry, commanding Third Brigade.

HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., THIRD DIV., 20TH ARMY CORPS,

Savannah, Ga., December 27, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this brigade since the last report, which embraced the occupation of Atlanta, September 2, 1864.

The brigade was then encamped southeast of the city of Atlanta, Ga., and furnished daily large details for working parties on the fortifications. The Thirty-third Massachusetts Volunteers formed part of the provost guard of the city, and rejoined the brigade at Milledgeville on the 23d of November. On the 8th of October the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteers was detached from the brigade to Col. F. C. Smith, One hundred and second Illinois Volunteers, commanding First Brigade, at the railroad bridge across the Chattahoochee River, and rejoined the brigade at Atlanta on the 14th of November. On the 21st of October the brigade formed part of a foraging expedition under command of Col. Daniel Dustin, One hundred and fifth Illinois Volunteers, commanding Third Division, which penetrated the country southeast fifteen miles to near Lithonia. Nine hundred wagon loads of corn were captured by the troops, and a quantity of provisions sufficient to subsist the men during the four days they were absent from Atlanta.

On the 5th of November, 1864, this brigade moved with the balance of the corps two miles on the McDonough road, where it remained until noon of the next day, and returned to its former encampment. On the morning of the 9th of November the enemy advanced toward our lines with cavalry and artillery, evidently supposing that the army had left Atlanta. A field battery opened fire; some small-arms were used. The affair was simply a demonstration on the part of the enemy, and no casualties were reported in this command. In the afternoon of the same day Colonel Ross, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, rejoined the brigade and assumed command, relieving Lieutenant-Colonel Buckingham, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, who had been in command since the departure of Colonel Wood, One hundred and thirty-sixth New York Volunteers, on leave of absence September 23, 1864.(*)

I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Colonel Twentieth Connecticut Infantry, Comdg. Brigade.

Assistant Adjutant-General.